Forrest McClendon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Forrest McClendon is an American stage actor, singer and professor. McClendon received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical nomination in 2011 for his portrayal of Mr. Tambo in the Broadway musical The Scottsboro Boys.[1][2] The Scottsboro Boys marked McClendon's Broadway debut.[3][4]
McClendon was born and raised in Norwalk, Connecticut.[2][3] He was raised in the Roodner Court housing projects in South Norwalk.[3] His mother, Ruthie Mae Brown, still resides in Norwalk.[2] He attended Nathan Hale Middle School and graduated from Norwalk High School in 1983.[2] McClendon received his first formal singing lessons from Lewis Cisto, a teacher in the Norwalk High School music department.[2] He also received lessons from Betty Jones, a Connecticut opera singer, and Cassandra Eaton, the music minister of Grace Baptist Church in Norwalk.[2]
He initially studied engineering at the University of Connecticut.[2] However, he switched majors to vocal studies, for which he obtained a bachelor's degree.[2]
